Sun, 27th May, 2018 Kurrajong Camp, Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles), WA (exploring South Bungles)

6am 11 degrees. 7am 14 degrees so we got up!! Cute parrots playing in the trees but they wouldn’t stay still for a photo.

Packed up and headed off to explore the southern section. Good road, in and out of dry creeks. Had to stop for Mr Bustard – he wouldn’t move. Took a video of him too strutting about.

Continued on to the other lookout near the Walardi Campground as the lady said it was good for mornings. I think she meant sunrise as the hills are all in shadow. We continued on. Interesting rocks in the distance.

The striped Domes came into view.

Pulled into a lookout area. Took a video.

Then another video as we drove along. As we drove into Piccaninny car park I snapped off a few more photos. Recently burnt through here.

Lots of people here. Found a park and had a cuppa. I took another video of the view. Got out the walking sticks, water and I made up our lunch and snacks to keep us going. Will skip the Piccaninny Creek Trek, thank you.

  

There are plenty other walks to keep us busy for the day.

We were following an tour group which was handy listening to the commentary. Headed off down the track. Looking back to the truck.

Selfie time as we turned off to do the Domes circuit.

Zoomed in on an anthill on the side of one of the Domes.

Walked up a soft sandy creek.

The others had stopped at a tree. The tour ‘end’ lady said there was a small snake on the branch but it has gone into a hole now. He just had his head poking out.

Continued the walk to a small cavern where there was a small pool of water and some dead cane toads.

Someone had posed this one with a walking stick.

Looking above the pool where the water would gush down when it rains.

Looking back out.

The tour leader was explaining how the young aboriginal men would come here. There were a few paintings up high of handprints and boomerangs.

Continued around the domes, reading a few signs on the way. Took another video.

Met the main track again and continued along to an intersection.

We turned off to Cathedral Gorge while the tour group were going on to Piccaninny Creek Lookout (we’ll do that on the way back). A few pools of water and lots of holes were the stones have tumbled around in them.

Would be great to see the water coming down this fall into the creek.

The track narrows as we head into the Gorge.

It opened up into a huge amphitheatre with a pool at the end. Sadly no one was singing as it has very good acoustics so I started with a couple of lines of ‘Sounds of Music’ which amplified around. I was videoing but you can’t hear it just my voice next to the camera unfortunately.

Steve walked around to the other side of the pool under the waterfall area. He looks so small as it is such a large cavern.

Looking back out then I panned around.

Zoomed in on Steve on the other side.

I walked around to the left. Looking up the sheer face.

Met up with Steve. He said when people were walking on the rocks at the entrance it sounded so loud over this side. I took some photos then when he walked across the rocks took a video – sort of hear it.

One bit of information.

Headed back out after a drink and snack. We had to use a few ladders to come up out of the creek on the rock in a few places (I forgot to take photos of on the way in).

Back to the intersection. We decided to walk to Whip Snake Gorge then do the lookout on the way back. Video of the view.

  

The creek bed is solid limestone. Found a pool of water complete with fish.

Continued along the creek bed snapping photos as we went. It was quite hot here as there isn’t any breeze – probably 33 degrees, and when you stand in the shade it is very pleasant.

Turned off to check out The Window.

  

Steve climbed up first with the camera - looking through it and to the right.

Then I followed him up and got the camera back!! The rock is like honeycomb in the hollow we are standing.

Looking back from where we had come.

Steve took the camera back. Says I'm not in enough photos.

Back into the creek and up to the turnoff into Whip Snake Gorge. 

Up onto rocky platform above Whip Snake Creek. Video of the view.

Continued along admiring the view.

Stopped to check out one pool as we saw something move and it was a dirty old cane toad. There was another one too but we couldn’t get down to deal with them. Doesn’t look like they will be getting out of there either so hopefully they will be dead soon.

The next section was recently burnt.

Another pool was below a waterfall slide.

Arrived at the end – looking back. Took a 360 degree video.

Panned around at the towering walls around us.

Another waterfall slide led us to a small pool.

We stripped off to cool down and had our lunch in the shade. Headed back and met a younger couple coming up the creek. Back to Piccaninny Creek for the walk back. Passed the Window then down to the turn off to Piccaninny Creek Lookout.

Steady climb upwards. Another couple from Melbourne were there so we chatted for a while. She took a photo for us.

Didn’t realise how far up we were. The wind is coming straight up and is quite cool.

The couple had taken the helicopter flight this morning. The pilot said this rock formation has the same footprint as Ayers Rock. We commented about the lack of aboriginal paintings and she said there is a range further over where they did most of the art and ceremonies etc so no access to that area. She said there were also two ranges further over. In their Dreaming stories, one is a crocodile and the other a snake and they protect the Bungle Bungle Ranges.

Fabulous view over the stripped domes and Piccaninny Creek as it winds its way towards the Ord River which is the southern and eastern boundaries for the National Park. Took a video too.

Headed back. She also said this area was recently burnt by a lightning strike.

Back to the truck for a nice cold drink then a cuppa under the shade sails. Headed back – zoomed in on those rock formations in the distance that caught my eye this morning.

On the map it showed Elephant Rock. Looks like a row of elephant heads from this side.

Turned into the parking area and realised it was probably this side – looks like an elephant head with a baby one in front of it.

Back to our camp spot for a lovely long warm shower as the solar shower isn’t as good as heating it up in the billy. Chatted with a young couple who are from NSW but are working on Hamilton Island. He built a slide-off camper for his ute. Did a very good job and they are very pleased with how well it has worked.

Played some more Skipbo before dinner – I managed to win a couple.

Early to bed as it has gotten very chilly and with no fire we can’t keep warm. We are also a bit exhausted from our big hike today. Mind you all the campers have gone to bed before us.